Against The Wind

A Hidden Low-pressure Area Pushed Hurricane Erin Away From South Florida Last Year. Early Preparation Will Help You If Were Not As Fortunate In 96.

June 2, 1996

For South Florida, luck almost ran out last summer when Hurricane Erin took dead aim on Fort Lauderdale. The storm sent thousands of people scurrying to make last-minute preparations.

On the roads of the Florida Panhandle, luck almost ran out in October. As Hurricane Opal churned across the Gulf of Mexico, thousands of people were caught in traffic jams, exposed to potentially killer winds.

A hidden low pressure area spared South Florida, pushing Erin ashore in Vero Beach. Those caught on the roads of the Panhandle were saved when Opal lost strength just before it came ashore.

Even so, the busiest hurricane season in more than 60 years caused more than $3 billion in damage in Florida in 1995 and destroyed thousands of buildings.

And officials were relieved.

"We were lucky in Florida," said Joe Myers, state emergency management director. "It could have been a lot worse."

But officials know that luck inevitably is going to completely run out, as it did in 1992, when Hurricane Andrew killed 65 and left behind $27 billion in damages.

It could be this year. The 1996 hurricane season began June 1 and runs until Nov. 30. August and September are the busiest months for storms, but the time to get ready is now.

"Every individual needs to have their own hurricane plan," said Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center. "These plans need to be in place before the start of the season."

Hurricane Opal taught that lesson. Panhandle residents who waited too long to leave got caught on the roads. Traffic was worsened by panicky people fleeing the storm, people who would have been better off staying at home.

Opal taught another lesson: Pay attention. The storm caught many people by surprise. Warnings went up late at night. But most people didnt realize it until the next morning, robbing them of precious time for preparation.

Even though 1995 was an extraordinary year for its number of storms, it might be a sign of things to come. Despite all the recent busy seasons, overall, Florida has enjoyed a 30-year lull in hurricane activity.

"We've been in a long downturn in intense storms," said William Gray, a Colorado State University professor and a prominent hurricane forecaster. "That likely will be changing."

Anyone prone to downplaying the risk should remember that nearly 15,000 Americans - including 3,000 Floridians - have died in hurricanes this century.

Before Hurricane Andrew, no hurricane had made landfall in Florida since 1979. Andrew was the first major hurricane to hit South Florida since 1965.

On average, the state gets hit with a major hurricane only once every nine years. But in active times, the numbers can rise dramatically. Between 1944 and 1950, for instance, 12 hurricanes hit Florida.

And people who haven't been through a serious storm about - 80 percent of Floridians - don't know how bad it can be.

"Most people have not experienced the core of a hurricane," said Ed Rappaport, of the National Hurricane Center.

And bad as hurricanes are, Rappaport said, people who've experienced them swear they were even worse.

"They were not prepared psychologically for what was coming," Rapport said.

There is some good news. The 1995 season proved that federal, state and local governments are better prepared than ever to help out during hurricanes. The Federal Emergency Management, criticized for its lethargic response to Andrew, was praised for it's efforts last year.

But surviving the storm is up to you. And you must be prepared to survive without outside assistance for at least 72 hours after a storm, emergency management professionals say.

Don't wait until the warnings are issued. Dont wait until the winds are blowing.